Lionel Messi will appear at a sixth World Cup after being named in Argentina's 2026 World Cup squad.
Messi led La Albiceleste to a third World Cup title at Qatar 2022, scoring twice in the final against France.
With 26 appearances, Messi holds the current record for the most World Cup matches by any player.
The 38-year-old forward's inclusion in Lionel Scaloni's squad had been in doubt after he suffered what his Inter Miami side described as "muscle fatigue" during their most recent MLS match.
Messi's selection means he joins Cristiano Ronaldo, his longtime rival, in appearing at a record-extending sixth global finals.
Messi has made 198 appearances for Argentina and will reach the 200-mark if he plays in both of his country's friendly matches – against Honduras in Texas on Sunday, June 7 and Iceland in Alabama on June 9.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star is joined by 17 other members of that World Cup triumph, including Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.
Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who missed the 2022 World Cup through injury, returned for his second finals after being part of Argentina's squad in Russia in 2018 without making an appearance.
Argentina also included several younger players expected to lead the team's next generation, including Valentin Barco, Nicolas Paz and Giuliano Simeone, while forwards Jose Manuel Lopez and Thiago Almada are among those set for their first World Cup appearances.
Local media reports said left-back Marcos Acuna, part of the 2022 title-winning squad, missed out because of fitness concerns.
Argentina will open their Group J campaign against Algeria on June 16 before facing Jordan and Austria.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso.
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez.
Forwards: Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez.
